In the past seven years, one of the most successful spring sports teams at the high school has been the boys lacrosse team. Every year since 2005, the team has qualified for postseason play, won a few Bay State Titles, and even a State Championship . The 2012 Boys Lacrosse Team is different from years past in that qualifying for the playoffs has come down to the wire.
The 2012 Boys Lacrosse Team is different from past Walpole teams. Usually, the Rebels are led by a strong core of upperclassmen who play most of the game and throughout the season aid the younger players in the process of acclimating to varsity level play. This team dynamic has changed this spring because Walpole has very few upperclassmen to lead, and most rely on the efforts put forth by many talented underclassmen. Not only is the team young and inexperienced, but because of the success of past teams, the Rebels have a grueling schedule that puts them up against some of the best opponents in Eastern Massachusetts.
The Rebels started off the year against Dover-Sherborn – one of the favorites to win the Division 3 title. Walpole lost the game 7-2, as the game exposed their lackluster offensive power. In their next game, the Rebels suffered an upset as Franklin defeated Walpole by a score of 11-7. Walpole reworked their offense and came back in the next week with two wins to even out their record. Going into April vacation week, the Rebels stood at 2-2 and at a crossroads in their season.
First up for the Rebels was the Scituate Sailors, who are having a red-hot season. Walpole got outworked and the final score – 8-2 in Scituate’s favor – reflected this. Walpole needed a quick turnaround as they traveled up to Danvers to face St. John’s Prep. The Rebels hung with the Eagles, but their inexperience showed at times and ended up in an 8-4 Prep victory. To add insult to injury, the Boys Lacrosse Team lost 8-6 to King Philip in their next game – a team that was 0-6 entering the game.
Following the loss to King Philip, Walpole went to work to try and get back to their old winning ways. Despite losing their next two games against Newton North and Wellesley – two teams that are vying for the Bay State Conference title – the Rebels cleared up some of their issues and started playing solid, fundamental lacrosse. Flashes of great lacrosse were present in the early season, but only temporary – lasting for only a quarter or less. Recently, the team has been playing solid for longer stretches during the games which has resulted in more wins – over Brookline and Dedham – and closer contests.
On Saturday, May 5, the team played arguably their best game all season. Walpole hosted Xaverian in what turned out to be a great high school lacrosse game between two evenly matched teams. Xaverian ended up winning the game 4-3, but Walpole was pleased with their long offensive possessions and rigid defense. “In the Xaverian game everyone played great,” said senior Captain Bryan Rockwood, “it was the first full game that this team has put together and it showed.”
On Monday, May 7, the Rebels traveled to Needham and ran with a top 10 team in the state. “Although we lost 8-1, we showed that we can run with the best,” said junior midfielder Steve Thulin after the game. The Rebels seemed to have found a playmaker in junior midfielder Steve Thulin. Not only is Thulin extremely successful at the face-off x but has a cannon of a shot. In the Xaverian and Needham games, all of Walpole’s goals came from Thulin. “Coach [Jason] Andalo always says we need a player to step up in the offensive end,” said Thulin, “I try to do that so we can have a chance to win.”
Walpole hosted Milton next on Wednesday, May 9, and earned a convincing 14-2 win. The Rebels lost their next game to Hopkinton by a score of 9-7. With this loss, the Rebels were seemingly out of playoff contention; however, due to the “Sullivan Rule” the Rebels would still qualify for postseason play. The “Sullivan Rule” is that any team that finishes second in its division qualifies for playoffs. Both Norwood and Walpole were 3-1 in the Herget Division and the game on Monday, May 21 would determine whether or not the Rebels would continue their season.
In an instant classic, Walpole battled through four hard-fought quarters against a tough Norwood squad. The Rebels and Mustangs went blow-for-blow in the game, but the Mustangs were ahead 8-7 with a minute left. Rockwood sniped a shot past Norwood’s goalie to even up the game with a little under 45 seconds remaining in the game. In a stunning series of plays, senior defenseman and Captain Russ Ollis stripped the ball from a Norwood midfielder and then threw a 50 yard pass cross-field to junior attackman Chris Frye, who scored to get the win with five seconds left on the clock. “It was surreal,” said Frye, who scored five times in the contest, “Russ threw the pass and the Norwood defenseman missed picking it off . . . I knew I had to finish it.”
With the 9-8 win, the Rebels are now 7-11 and playoff-bound. With a reengerized team and the return of stud Frye, Walpole could make a postseason run and surprise many.
